Kagome was sleeping peacefully in the backseat, wrapped in a leather jacket. The owner was leaning his head against the car window, his eyes closed. Kagome's head rested on his shoulder and he listened to her even breathing as it lulled him to sleep.
Sango smirked as she checked the mirror and nudged Miroku in the ribs. She gestured to the back seat and winked.
"You owe me ten bucks," she teased. Miroku frowned.
"We are talking about my cousin here," he muttered and turned onto a gravel drive. As the road became more of a bumpy drive and less of the smooth sailing it had been, Kagome and InuYasha were jerked awake.
Kagome blushed intensely after realizing she was clad in InuYasha's jacket. She immediately shrugged it off and handed it to him, refusing to look at him. InuYasha smiled softly and took it, purposely brushing her fingers with his. Her blush grew ten shades darker.
"Looks like we're here," Miroku said from the front and Kagome's expression brightened considerably. As Miroku slowed the jeep down, Kagome jumped out and took off running. InuYasha couldn't help but admire the way she looked when she smiled and the way her hair fell back in waves, and the way that shirt accented her curves…
"Quit drooling," Sango said with a smirk and jumped out of the now stopped vehicle. InuYasha blushed slightly and slowly followed Miroku as he got out of the car and retrieved their bags.
"Mama!" Kagome exclaimed, running into the open arms of an older woman with short, curled hair dressed in a white cotton shirt and jeans. She smiled and InuYasha watched the women as they exchanged smiles and chattered animatedly.
InuYasha was carrying Kagome's backpack and duffle bag towards the porch when Kagome's mother stopped him.
"Oh, my! Haven't you grown up so much since I last saw you?" she asked with a grin. She pulled a surprised InuYasha into a hug. "It seems like eons ago when you would come over here to sing with Kagome!" InuYasha blushed again.
"That's because it was eons ago, Mom." Kagome commented before brushing past InuYasha to go inside. Kagome's mother sighed. "You've grown far too distant, InuYasha. You should stay with us while you're in town over the holiday. We have an extra room, and your parents are out of town on vacation." She said with a grin. InuYasha smiled.
"That sounds wonderful."
"Kagome, you sing?" Sango asked as they unpacked their clothes and began to put their things away. Kagome sighed.
"I haven't for a long time. I played guitar, too." She said and went to hang her shirts up in her closet. She pulled a dusty guitar decorated with multicolored swirls. She wiped away the layer of dust and set it on her bed. Sango admired with a soft smile.
"You were always so withdrawn, I had no idea." She said, glancing toward Kagome. Kagome only gazed at the guitar with a sad smile.
"I stopped playing when he stopped coming over." She said quietly and left the room. "I'm going to see Jewel." She called over her shoulder. Sango grinned. "You can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl."
InuYasha had been offered the office to stay, but Miroku suggested they share a room. So, there they were, unpacking. InuYasha was sleeping on a bedroll on the floor, which he preferred over any mattress any day. As InuYasha placed his few things in a dresser drawer, he heard Miroku laugh.
"Man, I remember this!" he exclaimed. InuYasha turned. "What is it?"
Miroku held up a picture with a wooden frame. In it was a picture of Miroku, Kagome, and InuYasha sitting in the backyard when they were six years old. Kagome was awkwardly trying to play a large guitar while InuYasha wailed into a microphone like a rock star. Miroku stood in the background, doubled over laughing with tears in his eyes. InuYasha grinned.
"That was right before we started going to school together." He said and thought about the old guitar. "Does she still have it?" he asked. Miroku shrugged.
"She might as well not, she hasn't played it in so long." He said and left the room. InuYasha stared at the photo for a while until he heard the sound of a horse out in the pastures behind the house. He looked out the window and watched Kagome lead her horse away from the stables. He realized his chance and bolted out of the room.
Kagome mounted Jewel and urged her into a run. She laughed, enjoying the much missed feeling of freedom when she rode Jewel.
Her ride was interrupted when InuYasha walked out into the pasture, leaning against the wooden fencepost. "Hey!" he called with a smile. Kagome rolled her eyes. She dismounted Jewel and left her to approach InuYasha.
"What?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. InuYasha smirked.
"Mean, little girl," he teased. Kagome sighed. "What's up?" she asked, resigned. InuYasha shrugged. "Just thought we could hang out, like we did when we were six." Kagome nodded and they walked along the fence post.
"Twenty questions?" he asked eventually, breaking an awkward silence. "Sure," she replied. InuYasha feigned thought for a moment.
"What do you want to do after we graduate from University?"
"Be a teacher. What are you going to do?"
"I have no idea."
Kagome looked at InuYasha and smiled just a little. "Still the procrastinator like always." She murmured. InuYasha didn't hear.
"Why don't you play anymore?"
Kagome hesitated. "I had no inspiration," she said after a moment. They continued walking, but at a slower pace. She thought for a moment, then frowned. "Why were you so surprised when I said I knew you at the diner?" she asked. InuYasha shrugged.
"I honestly figured you didn't remember," he said, watching her out of the corner of his eye. She snorted.
"Of course I know you, I've had a crush on you since we were six."
Total silence.
The entire pasture seemed to echo with total silence.
Kagome stood frozen on the spot, realizing what she'd just said. A massive blush painted her cheeks and neck. InuYasha just stared at her. Kagome turned and sprinted back towards the house.
"Kagome, wait!"
And that's the chapter. She LIKES HIM. Yes, I know you all saw it coming. I'm predictable. It might take a couple days for the next chapter. I know they're short, but there are going to be a few, so keep on watching out! :D
